Airtel to launch cheap 3G handsets

Airtel is in talks with major mobile handset manufacturers to launch the 3G-enabled handsets below the price of $100.

The penetration of 3G-enabled handsets is currently very low in India and in several other markets. The 3G spectrum was auctioned few months ago in India and after that many telecom operators have launched their 3G services. But the growth of 3G has been hindered because of high prices of 3G-enabled mobile handsets.

“We see that it (price) is a barrier to the spread of 3G. We think that by bringing it down, we could give a boost to the spread of 3G. We further foresee a breakthrough when it reaches the $50-mark,” Atul Mohan Bindal, president (Mobile Services), Airtel, said. However, he refused to divulge the names of the companies it was talking to.

Meanwhile, Pacnet has also confirmed that it has signed agreements with Bharti Airtel Limited to deliver a new high-speed network connecting Chennai to the US.

Simultaneously, both firms will also benefit from gaining additional complementary fibre capacity, as well as additional network routes to increase the diversity and resiliency of their global IP networks.

“Increasing network capacity westward of Singapore is an important step forward in ensuring we are able to deliver on our customers’ requirements and keep pace with the growth momentum which we are seeing across India,” said Bill Barney, Chief Executive Officer, Pacnet.

“The new Chennai-US network will deliver much needed bandwidth as there is an exponential increase in demand for international connectivity from India to Asia and the US,” said Sunanda Das, Country Manager, Pacnet India.

Source : 234next